Will success spoil Antero Reservoir?

With all the hoopla surrounding the big-fish catching at the newly re-opened Antero Reservoir comes the unwelcome issue of unacceptable fish losses due to improper handling.

Officials are disturbed at the spectacle of many large trout floating belly-up–both a loss of a valuable resource and an indication of poor sportsmanship on the part of Colorado anglers.

While there’s cause to point fingers in several directions, certain truisms remain:
–It’s difficult to safely release trout caught using bait without being willing to cut the line.
–Treble hooks compound the problem of safely removing a lure.
–The requirement that fish be measured under the existing regulation allowing four fish, only one over 16 inches, puts added stress on trout through extra handling and more time out of the water.
–Efforts at educating the angling public on the elements of safely releasing fish haven’t taken hold, at least to the extent necessary to best protect fish.

The question remains whether Antero’s basic regulations about creel limits and angling methods should be changed? Feel free to give an opinion.

Antero is, with very little argument from anyone, “special” – it deserves to have special regulations in place to protect this unique resource.

Step 1 – everyone entering the park should have their fishing license checked at the gate – no license, no entrance, period.

Step 2 – Special regulations including penalties for not following them should be clearly posted at the entrance. If someone doesn’t agree with the special regulations, let them go fish at Spinney or Elevenmile.

Some of the special regulations should include:

– Barbless hooks, whether fly, lure or bait fishing

– Everyone must have an accurate length measuring device in their possession

– All fish in creels or coolers must have head and tail attached after cleaning – no bringing in fish from other waters

– Anyone caught “uptrading” trout from a stringer – impose a heavy fine and immediate confiscation of license for 1 year

– More than 1 trout over 16″ in possession – impose a heavy fine and immediate confiscation of license for 1 year

Frequent spot checks on the water for barbless hooks, creel contents and a measurement tool would help as well.

All fines generated from tickets written at Antero should go directly to help sustain Antero’s park staffing at levels needed for realistic enforcement.

Fish mortality after release is a fact of life with trout fishing. A common misconception is that big trout in lakes are leader shy. I have personally disproven this by catching some of the biggest trout of my life on 1x tippet in Spinney. Light tippet above 3x just prolongs the fight and increases the chance that fish will die after release. Bait fishing further increases mortality after release simply due to trout swallowing the bait and making non-lethal hook removal more difficult. Making barbless hooks mandatory whether fly, lure or bait fishing would help mortality numbers.

Antero is a fanastic resource that many of us having been waiting for years to become available again. It’s time to get tough on the few thieves posing as fishermen who want to steal opportunities for “once in a lifetime” fish from the rest of us.

Pat Hinchliffe

Antero is, with very little argument from anyone, “special” – it deserves to have special regulations in place to protect this unique resource.

Step 1 – everyone entering the park should have their fishing license checked at the gate – no license, no entrance, period.

Step 2 – Special regulations including penalties for not following them should be clearly posted at the entrance. If someone doesn’t agree with the special regulations, let them go fish at Spinney or Elevenmile.

Some of the special regulations should include:

– Barbless hooks, whether fly, lure or bait fishing

– Everyone must have an accurate length measuring device in their possession

– All fish in creels or coolers must have head and tail attached after cleaning – no bringing in fish from other waters

– Anyone caught “uptrading” trout from a stringer – impose a heavy fine and immediate confiscation of license for 1 year

– More than 1 trout over 16″ in possession – impose a heavy fine and immediate confiscation of license for 1 year

Frequent spot checks on the water for barbless hooks, creel contents and a measurement tool would help as well.

All fines generated from tickets written at Antero should go directly to help sustain Antero’s park staffing at levels needed for realistic enforcement.

Fish mortality after release is a fact of life with trout fishing. A common misconception is that big trout in lakes are leader shy. I have personally disproven this by catching some of the biggest trout of my life on 1x tippet in Spinney. Light tippet above 3x just prolongs the fight and increases the chance that fish will die after release. Bait fishing further increases mortality after release simply due to trout swallowing the bait and making non-lethal hook removal more difficult. Making barbless hooks mandatory whether fly, lure or bait fishing would help mortality numbers.

Antero is a fanastic resource that many of us having been waiting for years to become available again. It’s time to get tough on the few thieves posing as fishermen who want to steal opportunities for “once in a lifetime” fish from the rest of us.

Bergie

Yes, change the regulations immediately. When so many people have the opportunity to catch a large trout of several pounds, the resource should be protected.
Flies and lures only, keep one fish over 20.
To waste a great opportunity like this is ridiculous. With the current regulations, we’ll catch big fish there for two years – maybe – then it’ll be back to the standard fare of small 12-to-14-inch fish.
Protect it and we might all catch huge trout there for years to come.

Bergie

Yes, change the regulations immediately. When so many people have the opportunity to catch a large trout of several pounds, the resource should be protected.
Flies and lures only, keep one fish over 20.
To waste a great opportunity like this is ridiculous. With the current regulations, we’ll catch big fish there for two years – maybe – then it’ll be back to the standard fare of small 12-to-14-inch fish.
Protect it and we might all catch huge trout there for years to come.

Ronnie

The lake is similar to Spinney as far as growth rate and aquatic life, so lets give it the same regulations. If you want to use bait, go to 11mile.

Ronnie

The lake is similar to Spinney as far as growth rate and aquatic life, so lets give it the same regulations. If you want to use bait, go to 11mile.

Ron

I was present for the opener.I saw more than one fisherman trying to release some very big fish without using good technique or regard for the fish.Bait fishing was the main reason for this,but not the only one.Some folks just don`t know how to handle a fish of that size and strengh.Baning treble hooks would help.I think a correct release booklet would also help. Ron

Ron

I was present for the opener.I saw more than one fisherman trying to release some very big fish without using good technique or regard for the fish.Bait fishing was the main reason for this,but not the only one.Some folks just don`t know how to handle a fish of that size and strengh.Baning treble hooks would help.I think a correct release booklet would also help. Ron

Robert

Charlie,

Great article and you hit the nail on the head. The reg’s there need revisited seriously. We have had quite an ongoing discussion on the Colorado Fishing Forum Website and I believe everyone is greatly concerned regarding this issue.

Thanks for bringing this to the rest of the public view.

Robert

Charlie,

Great article and you hit the nail on the head. The reg’s there need revisited seriously. We have had quite an ongoing discussion on the Colorado Fishing Forum Website and I believe everyone is greatly concerned regarding this issue.

Thanks for bringing this to the rest of the public view.

Matt

I agree that care should be taken to preserve the good that has been done by the recent lack of strain on Antero’s resources, and the ideas above are mostly good ones. The lone exception is an important one, though. Pat Hinchliffe’s assertion that only those with valid fishing licenses should be allowed on a piece of land that is a public asset is very much contrary to the legal realities and the basic philosophy of our society. Let’s not go down that slippery slope.

Matt

I agree that care should be taken to preserve the good that has been done by the recent lack of strain on Antero’s resources, and the ideas above are mostly good ones. The lone exception is an important one, though. Pat Hinchliffe’s assertion that only those with valid fishing licenses should be allowed on a piece of land that is a public asset is very much contrary to the legal realities and the basic philosophy of our society. Let’s not go down that slippery slope.

Jay

One thing we are taught as kids when fishing was to respect the sport, which is inclusive of everything nature and the outdoors, life and otherwise. A ton of lifes lessons are learned out there. The way we conduct ourselves while enjoying sport says EVERYTHING about us. Special Regs ARE needed! Example. A friend of mine and I were scouting Parvin Lake and happened upon a man who was spin fishing. All he had was the rod, a rapala and a measuring tape. We watched from high above on a rock cliff as he hauled in a 22 Inch Brown. The guy had no sense of respect for the health of the trout as it lay on the ground drying out while he fumbled for his tape measure! This is before he tried to get the hook out! After measuring it he yelled up to us and a guy in a float tube if we had pliers (to dislodge the lure from the brown trouts mouth). We were not fishing and were way up above on a cliff and would have lend a helping hand if possible. But then again, its not our responsibility to help assure the well being of the trout as well AND THEN AGAIN IT IS. It made me furious. Here is a fellow who has enough sense to bring a rod, measuring tape but nothing else. So utterly heart breaking.

After several minutes and the fish dying while the angler held this magnificant fish by the jaw, yanking to get his lure back… Sad. At this point the fish was pretty much in a belly up situation even with help I figure this to be a 50 something year old idiot just out for himself. Lack of respect, lack of sportsmanship. Was he that hard up to measure a big fish? For many that is a fish of a lifetime and the end of it’s own. We are sure that fish went belly up for no reason other than selfish disregard for nature, sport and others. Too Bad. Next time I’ll jump off the cliff to release and save the fish and give the idiot a bath. Just as important as having you license on you (I wonder if the guy had one) are the neccessary tools. Instead of a tape measure he could have bought a pair of hemos. Rod, hemos. Pinch down the barbs, etc… I liken it to going hunting shooting a buck and calling it a day, without tracking and letting the animal die. I AM SURE this happens ALL the time. Come on folks! Thats one trout down and one too many in this case.

Jay

One thing we are taught as kids when fishing was to respect the sport, which is inclusive of everything nature and the outdoors, life and otherwise. A ton of lifes lessons are learned out there. The way we conduct ourselves while enjoying sport says EVERYTHING about us. Special Regs ARE needed! Example. A friend of mine and I were scouting Parvin Lake and happened upon a man who was spin fishing. All he had was the rod, a rapala and a measuring tape. We watched from high above on a rock cliff as he hauled in a 22 Inch Brown. The guy had no sense of respect for the health of the trout as it lay on the ground drying out while he fumbled for his tape measure! This is before he tried to get the hook out! After measuring it he yelled up to us and a guy in a float tube if we had pliers (to dislodge the lure from the brown trouts mouth). We were not fishing and were way up above on a cliff and would have lend a helping hand if possible. But then again, its not our responsibility to help assure the well being of the trout as well AND THEN AGAIN IT IS. It made me furious. Here is a fellow who has enough sense to bring a rod, measuring tape but nothing else. So utterly heart breaking.

After several minutes and the fish dying while the angler held this magnificant fish by the jaw, yanking to get his lure back… Sad. At this point the fish was pretty much in a belly up situation even with help I figure this to be a 50 something year old idiot just out for himself. Lack of respect, lack of sportsmanship. Was he that hard up to measure a big fish? For many that is a fish of a lifetime and the end of it’s own. We are sure that fish went belly up for no reason other than selfish disregard for nature, sport and others. Too Bad. Next time I’ll jump off the cliff to release and save the fish and give the idiot a bath. Just as important as having you license on you (I wonder if the guy had one) are the neccessary tools. Instead of a tape measure he could have bought a pair of hemos. Rod, hemos. Pinch down the barbs, etc… I liken it to going hunting shooting a buck and calling it a day, without tracking and letting the animal die. I AM SURE this happens ALL the time. Come on folks! Thats one trout down and one too many in this case.